Merriman’s slam lifts Indians past Diamond

Two big innings proved to be enough for the Seneca Indians as they defeated Diamond, 12-6, in a varsity baseball game on Monday at Diamond High School.

Neosho Daily News

Two big innings proved to be enough for the Seneca Indians as they defeated Diamond, 12-6, in a varsity baseball game on Monday at Diamond High School.

The Wildcats drew first blood with three runs in the bottom of the second, but the Indians came alive in the top of the third when Dalan Merriman singled to score Payton Rawlins to make it 3-1. Zach Horine later drew a bases-loaded walk to score Brayden Larson to make it 3-2 and Dylan Snow followed with a sacrifice fly to tie it at three. Jacob Brubaker lined a single to score Jacob Walker with the go-ahead run and Calvin Ackerson lifted a sacrifice fly to give the Indians a 5-3 advantage.

Seneca would break open the floodgates in the fifth when Merriman would connect on a two-out grand slam to cap another five-run inning and put the Indians in front 10-4. They would add single runs in the sixth and seventh and finished the game with 11 hits.

Merriman collected five RBIs and came a triple shy of hitting for the cycle. Brubaker and Larson both had two hits, while Ackerson and Horine and Rawlins also had hits.

Zach Renfro and Gavin Brines led the Wildcats with three hits apiece, while Logan Dewitt had two and Kolton Harville and Brodie Bien had one. Dewitt, Harville and Renfro had two RBIs apiece. Renfro, Dewitt and Brines all had doubles.

Horine started on the mound for the Indians and earned the win after allowing four runs on five hits with four strikeouts in four innings. Brubaker allowed one run on two hits with three punchouts in two innings. Merriman worked the seventh and allowed a run on one hit with a strikeout.Renfro took the loss for the Wildcats.